Adventure

Last summer I flew across thirteen time zones, alone, to tropical Thailand. It was my first international flight, my first flight alone, and my second flight in my lifetime. Still, adrenaline and anticipation chocked out my fears as I moved forward, past security, and set off toward my gate. I thrive on adventure.

My favorite books and movies are adventures and include The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and Princess Bride. My favorite characters are brave, determined, smart, and always diving head first into adventure. They remind me of myself, and my cousin Ethan.

Ethan has embarked on his own personal adventure while shaping characters' lives over the past several years. He has conceptualized, drafted, plotted, revised, prayed, sweated, and found great joy as he has created an adventure for others, a book, called Tales of True Mythology.

When rumours spread that Ethan was writing a book I simply had to read it. I imagined what fantastical creatures might be developing in his head and leaping onto the paper; I guessed what the book could be about. Thankfully, Ethan soon graciously allowed me to read his creation, Tales of True Mythology. I savoured the opportunity to meet for myself the characters that had been in his mind for so long and to travel the world he had formed. I found the story to be a sort of Peter Pan. An adventure of figuring out how to grow up, when, and where while surrounded by epic creatures and events. I empathized deeply with his characters.

Since then, I have read True Mythology again, received exclusive author interviews, and sneakily begged E to give me clues about the remainder of books in the series. My younger sister is now turning the already well-loved printer-paper pages of the novel which is held together with binder clips.

The adventure of True Mythology, and Ethan's adventure, are far from over. In The Hobbit speak, Bilbo has escaped the trolls but his adventures have only begun. Three weeks ago, Ethan set out on the next leg of the journey. He decided to self-publish his book.

Ethan had actually been researching publishing methods for some time. He found that considering the staggering number of manuscripts submitted anually, the chances of being discovered and becoming an overnight Suzzane Collins or J.K. Rowling are nil. Therefore, many new authors are using a newer publication strategy: self-publishing. Popular books including Eragon began as self-publishing efforts. Therefore, Ethan took the plunge.

Ethan setup a webpage on kickstarter.com. Kickstarter is a website created to launch new artists. When artist projects' are approved they receive their own webpage where they can post samples of their project, suggested donation amounts, associated rewards, the final fundraising goal, and the catch, the countdown. If the amount needed is not pledged within the given time frame, the sponsors' money remains in their pockets and the project fails to be launched.

By the end of March, Ethan needs to raise $3300 in pledges. The good news is he's less than a thousand dollars away. The bad news is, there are only seven days left. I am biting my nails while watching True Mythology's funding build and the clock count down to the end of March. This real-life adventure causes my heart to pound as if reliving Ben Hur's chariot race. No, actually it's different. In Ben Hur, I knew the characters had to survive. There was an inch left in the book! In real life though, the unknown looms ahead.

If you would be interested in learning more about Ethan's adventure, to follow it for yourself, or to make your own pledge, please click on the picture below to get a sneak-peek of the book, see a movie by the author, and join 44 others by pledging any amount. Rewards vary and include getting a copy of the book...and a sneak peek of the next book.

Join the adventure!